As the Sun entered the 15th degree of Taurus, Edava
Pathi began in right earnest. When I woke up at 0230 AM ( 29/05/2010),
it was raining cats and dogs.

The rains must have continued for one hour. It was
accompanied by lightning. Let us hope that Global Warming has not triggered
Climate Change to that extent and we will be receiving some rains !

Unlike the Gregorian
Calendar, the Vedic Astro Calendar gives the positions of the celestial bodies. For instance, today is Edavam
15th and we know that the Sun is in the 15th degree of Taurus. Today the
Calender shows Thrikketta, which means that the Moon is in the
constellation of Thrikketta ( Antares ) and is in Scorpio. The Calendar gives the
Jnattuvelas and the Rohini Jnattuvela started on the 25th.
So we are in Edava Pathi, in the midst of Rohini Jnattuvela.
Rains will be sporadic but will accelerate as Makiryam, Thiruvathira,
Punartham and Pooyam Jnattuvelas take over.

The Western Calendar is based on the Tropical
Zodiac ( from the First degree of Aries to the 360th degree of Pisces ) and we
find that the Vernal Equinoctial Point precedes one degree every 72 years. (
This is the astro phenomenon of the Precession of the Equinoxes ) Hence in the
Tropical Zodiac, the First Point of Aries moves ! The Vedic Calender is based
on the Sidereal Zodiac and is counted from the First Degree of Beta Aries ( Aswini
) to the 360th degree of Zeta Piscium ( Revathi ).

As the First Point of Aries moves in the Tropical
Zodiac, some adjustments should be done in the Western Calendar. Pope Gregory
modified the Julian Calendar by 12 days and the present Calendar came to be
known after him - the Gregorian Calendar. Seasons were changing and Western
astronomers were worried. So Pope Gregory added 12 more days to the Julian
Calendar ! Like, today is Oct 2nd and tomorrow is Oct 14th !

The Vedic Calendar, as it is based on the
constellations of the fixed stars or rather the Sidereal Zodiac, is static and
does not change. All Indian Astrology is Sidereal.

So we find that, to the man of Wisdom, the
Gregorian Calendar is of no use. The Vedic gives all astro information and is
informative indeed !

The Vedic Calendar was proved right again as it
rained for 90 minutes here in Trichur, from 0300 AM onwards ( 31/05/2010).
When I woke up at 3, it was raining cats and dogs of all descriptions.

Even though Global Warming had triggered Climate
Change, we can expect 50% of the rains. We used to get 100% rains, say 10
years ago. Even though rains are less, the V C says we will get rains and
that sporadic rains will continue till November !

The Vedic Calendar gives the dates of the solar
months from Mesha ( Aries ) to Meena ( Pisces ). It also
gives the lunations from the First Lunation ( Prathama ) to the Last
Lunation ( Amavasya ). It also gives the dates for the Hindu lunar
months.

The Lunar Calendar
or the Luni Solar Calendar

FAQs regarding Hindu
Lunar Year ( 1939 from Mar 28 )

Q - What is Gudi Padwa?

A - It is the Hindu Lunar Year.

Q - How is it computed ?

A - The Equinoctial New Moon - when Sun conjuncts Moon near the Equinox ( Mar
21 ) - is computed.

Q - When is it this year, 2017 ?

A - On Mar 28.

The Vedic Lunar Months are lunar months based on
Full Moon. The Moon comes at exactly 180 degrees from the Sun during
Opposition. They are called luni solar months, because solar ingresses happen
during these lunar months.

In the first month of Aries ( Mesha )
the Full Moon occurs on the constellation of Chitra and hence it is called Chaitra.

In the next month of Taurus (Vrishabha) the
Full Moon occurs on the constellation of Vishakha and hence it is called Vaishakha.

In the next month of Gemini ( Mithuna) the
Full Moon occurs on the constellation of Jyeshta and hence it is
called Jyeshta.

In the next month of Cancer (Kataka ) the Full Moon occurs on the
constellation of Ashada and hence it is called Ashada.

In the next month of Leo ( Chingam ) the Full Moon
occurs on the constellation of Sravana and hence it is called Sravana.

In the next month of Virgo ( Kanya ) the Full Moon
occurs on the constellation of Bhadrapada and hence it is called Bhadrapada.

In the next month of Liibra ( Thula ) the Full
Moon occurs on the constellation of Aswini and hence it is called
Ashwin.

In the next month of Scorpio ( Vrischika ) the
Full Moon occurs on the constellation of Karthika and hence it is called
Karthik.

In the next month of Sagittarius ( Dhanus ) the
Full Moon occurs on the constellation of Mrigasira and hence it is
called Margashirsha.

In the next month of Capricorn ( Makara ) the Full
Moon occurs on the constellation of Pushya and hence it is called Pusha.

In the next month of Aquarius ( Kumbha ) the Full
Moon occurs on the constellation of Makha and hence it is called Magh.

In the next month of Pisces ( Meena ) the Full Moon occurs on the
constellation of Phalguna and hence it is called Phalguna.